Kai Trump is opening up about the emotional days she spent with her mother, Vanessa Trump, before college amid Vanessa’s breast cancer battle.
Speaking to Fox News Digital from the University of Miami on Tuesday, the 19-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump said she and her mother became especially emotional in the week before she began her freshman year.
“There was definitely, there was a lot of crying in like the week leading up,” Kai Trump said. “We would just be driving, and then we’d just start crying together.”
Vanessa Trump revealed in May that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was working with her medical team on a treatment plan.
In June, Vanessa Trump said she was recovering from surgery and preparing to begin the second stage of her treatment.
“My mom, she’s doing a lot better,” Kai said. “Kind of after treatment, she wasn’t feeling very good. Just like how treatment will make you feel … but she’s getting a lot better now.”
Kai Trump, 19, opened up about crying with her mom, Vanessa, before starting college at Miami during Vanessa’s ongoing breast cancer battle. FOX News
Vanessa Trump revealed in May that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was working with her medical team on a treatment plan. kai trump/ instagram
Kai Trump said her mother’s diagnosis gave them an opportunity to spend considerably more time together over the summer — time the competitive golfer said she otherwise may have spent on the course.
She described that extra time together as a “blessing in disguise.”
“I was able to spend extra time with her that I would normally probably spend on the golf course,” Kai Trump said. “It was nice to spend those extra hours with her throughout the day before going to college.”
Kai Trump said being relatively close to home has helped make the college transition easier and reassured her that her mother is never far away.
President Trump poses for a photo with Kai Trump at UFC 327: Jiri Prochazka vs Carlos Ulberg at Kaseya Center in Miami, on April 11, 2026. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“I know if I called her at a random time she would be here in a heartbeat,” Kai Trump said. “So it’s very sweet, but I’m looking forward to the next chapter. And yeah, I mean, she’s very excited for me as well.” Now beginning her freshman year at the University of Miami, Kai Trump is also settling into everyday college life.
Although she was only a few days into the semester when she spoke with Fox News Digital, she said one class had already stood out.
“My marketing teacher was super cool, so I’m excited for that class,” Kai Trump said. “… The best part of the past two days is pretty much just having a team, being able to hang out with your team and golf together, practice together, get food together. So it’s been really nice.”
Kai Trump plays her tee shot on the second hole during The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican on Nov. 13, 2025, at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Her first practice also left her optimistic about the season ahead.
“Our team’s gonna be really good,” she said. “… I’m looking forward to it.”
Kai Trump said she has already been recognized frequently on campus.
“I’ve definitely had a lot of people recognize me so far, but it’s part of the name and that’s what comes with it,” she said. “I mean, I try to go about it and live like a normal college student, but yeah, I definitely got recognized a lot, but you get used to it after a while.”
She also left open the possibility that her grandfather could make an appearance at one of her tournaments.
“Who knows, maybe grandpa will come by if he has some time,” she said. “He’s quite busy, but we’ll see.”
